Category Archives: Presbytery

The Art of Transitional Ministry – Registration Now Open

The Synods of Lincoln Trails and Mid-America (MALT) have joined together to provide interim training every spring and fall to pastors nationwide. Transitional Ministry Education is intended for those presently engaged in interim ministry and those inquiring about this ministry. Committee on Ministry members and presbytery staff persons with responsibility for congregations in transition will also find the training helpful.

MALT Weeks 1 and 2 (“The Art of Transitional Ministry”) will be held
October 31st – November 4th, 2016.

Registration is now electronic and through eventbrite.
The Synod now accepts credit cards (as well as checks) for payments.
A signature is no longer required by COM moderators or EPs
The event brochure is available here on the Synod Website.

For more information, see the Interim Pastor Training page, here.

Summary of Presbyterian Youth Triennium

The 2016 Presbyterian Youth Triennium took place 7/19-7/23 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Twenty-two youth and four adults from the Presbytery of Ohio Valley made the trip. Below are some short summaries of what Triennium was like for some of our participants:

“Triennium was really awesome! Worship was really fun and we learned a lot from the sermons! I really enjoyed trading pins and recreation! The Pause Prayer Center was also really cool! My best memory of Triennium is Friday night, where everybody threw glowsticks in the air once it got to the chorus of Fireworks by Katy Perry! The food was also amazing!”

— Samuel Ford

“This was my second time at PYT and my experience was just as wonderful but very different from last time. I loved that we bonded much more as a delegation this year and I made so many friends that I want to stay in touch with for a long time. Also the pastors who spoke were so incredible and empowering. After this experience I feel much stronger in my faith. I wish I could keeping going!”

— Hannah Frey

“It was a whole new experience just like the first time I went. I got to meet new people with different views and backgrounds and sometimes and completely different perspective than mine. It was and will be one of the greatest experiences I have ever had the privilege of having.”

— Alec Hooker

“Hey this is Zoe! Oh geez describe Triennium in a few sentences that’s hard. Triennium this year was a way different experience than 3 years ago, this year I strengthened my faith and got some answers to questions that could only be answered through God. Not to mention I met many wonderful people that I am still keeping in touch with on a daily! This Triennium is the one I will never forget!”

— Zoe Pierce

“It was awesome. It was hot. My favorite memory is bowling with 4 youth down in the bowling alley at the student union. It is great for students to see speakers from across the country about relevant and compelling topics. I also loved that they were able to have bible studies in groups. It would have been nice if they were smaller, but it was great they were still able to do a bible study over what the session talk was about instead of just hearing at the main session.”

— Connor Scanlon, adult advisor

“I thought the 2013 Triennium was amazing. Then I went to the 2016 Triennium. I was nervous that I was expecting more out of it than what I was actually going to get, and boy was I wrong. It was incredible! I would go once a month, if that was even possible! Not only did I form lifelong friendships with people from all over the country, but I also grew in my relationship with God. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything in the world.”

— Crimson Tennis

“This was my second experience at Triennium and I can say that it was enriching and wonderful as the last time. Worship again opened my ears, eyes, and heart to what God wanted me to hear and carry out into the world. The members of our delegation are certainly welcoming and accepting and that created an even better experience.”

— Alysa Epperson

“The generation with whom I spent this past week is not, as some believe, selfish, always on their phone, apathetic and without valid opinions. Instead, I saw firsthand how compassionate, connected and convicted they are, with an amazing worldview to offer us all. Also, they exemplified the diversity, welcome, and passion of that early Church we read about in the Acts of the Apostles. They are not our future. We need them now. For as adults argue and debate, these youth not only will be but are now the generation of change.”

— Allen Colwell, adult advisor

Triennium Travelers For more, read the articles on the PC(USA) website or check out the Triennium Facebook page that chronicled the 5 day event!

Come to the Holy Land with The Presbytery of Ohio Valley

March 8-17, 2017

Marietta Macy, Director of Children and Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Columbus, will lead the group. Marietta notes, “I hope you will join us on this once in a lifetime experience that is sure to enrich and expand your faith as you encounter God in the people and places of the Holy Land.”

The Partnership we share with the International Center of Bethlehem includes travel and seeing Bethlehem first hand removes the mystery of the important work being done there. The trip includes Jerusalem, Galilee, the Jordan River, the Mount of Olives, Shepherds’ Field, Church of All Nations, conversation with the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions and a trip to the Deheishe Refugee Camp. Dar al-Kalima, which is the name of the work in Bethlehem, includes a health and wellness program, an Academy, a University, a Guesthouse, classes for young and old, serving all the people of Bethlehem.

The cost is $2895.00, including all tips, transfers, accommodations (dbl), many meals, guides and airfare. See a full description and Sign up on line at WWW.GTD.ORG G#170305
or with Marietta 812-821-2581, mvmacy@gmail.com
or with Jo Lucas 812-343-1847 or jolucas41@att.net.

Unpack once! Accommodations are at the Guesthouse of the International Center of Bethlehem

2014 travelers to the Bethlehem region

100 Things Every Child Should Know Before Confirmation

NORTHMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
IS HOSTING A SPECIAL EDUCATION EVENT!

Saturday, September 24, 2016 – 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, September 25, 2016 – 10:00 a.m.

100 THINGS EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW BEFORE CONFIRMATION

WHO: Any and all who are interested in the children and youth of the church – especially parents, grandparents, relatives, youth leaders, adults committed to living out the commitment we make to infants and children when they are baptized!

WHAT: A workshop/conversation with the Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick, author of 100 Things Every Child Should Know Before Confirmation: A Guide for Parents and Youth Leaders — Westminster/John Knox Press, 2015

WHEN:

Saturday, September 24, 2016 – 9:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 25, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

You are welcome at either, or both, of the conversations.

WHERE: Calvin Hall, Northminster Presbyterian Church
1660 Kessler Blvd., East Drive, Indianapolis 46220

WHY: We promise each time children are baptized that we will guide and nurture – by word and deed, with love and prayer, encouraging them to know and follow Christ and to be faithful members of Christ’s church …

SO, WHAT EXACTLY, SHOULD WE BE TEACHING AND HOW SHOULD WE
BE GUIDING? JOIN US FOR LEARNING AND DISCOVERY!

Rebecca Kirkpatrick is Associate Pastor for Adult Education and Mission at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church near Philadelphia. A graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary, she served for 10 years as Associate Pastor for Children and Youth at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church in South Bend, IN. From 2013-15, she served as a mission worker with Presbyterian World Mission (PCUSA) and the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt. She blogs about nurturing the spiritual lives of children at www.breadnotstones.com.

REGISTER HERE

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is responding in West Virginia

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.—Song of Songs 8:7

Our hearts, prayers and thoughts go out to the people of West Virginia in the wake of catastrophic flooding. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has deployed the National Response Team to support the Presbytery of West Virginia and Synod of the Trinity as they begin outreach to those affected.

Please give by clicking here. You’ll be taken to our web site to donate securely and quickly.

If you prefer to mail a check, you may send it to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
PO Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA, 15264-3700
You may also call us Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET), at 1-800-872-3283 and donate by phone.

Give: Share your financial blessings by designating gifts to DR000191—Disaster Relief—U.S. Flooding. Gifts can be made online, by calling (800) 872-3283, or by mailing a check to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. You can also text PDA to 20222 to donate $10.

Act: Stay informed: Subscribe to receive PDA Rapid Information Network emails to keep aware of current responses and urgent needs that you can share with your congregation, and like us on Facebook.

Pray: Please pray for those who suffered loss of loved ones and for those who are working tirelessly to provide rescue, humanitarian aid, and spiritual and psychological support.

Presbyterian Mission Agency, an agency of the Presbyterian Church
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202
800-728-7228 | 502-569-5000
Website | Email

June 4th Assembly News

Joining God’s Good Work in Our Communities: The Presbytery of Ohio Valley assembles to celebrate what we’re doing already and explore what we might yet do.

God is up to something! All around the world, and right around the corner, God is up to something. And the good news is that we are a part of it! The congregations of the Presbytery of Ohio Valley make a difference as we bear witness, in word and in deed, to God’s sovereign activity in the world.

The Congregational Mission and Vitality Committee and the Evangelism and Congregational Witness Committee invite you to a different kind of Presbytery Assembly. Regular business will be kept to a bare minimum, as our primary business of the day will be to celebrate what we’re already doing in our communities and to explore what we might yet do. Consider bringing an additional member or two from your congregation for this special day.

We Will:

Gather for worship and proclamation, hearing a few new stories of congregations who are joining God’s good work.
Engage with one another (using “World Café” conversations) to generate new ideas.
Be led in song by the gospel band “Living By Faith” (in which our moderator Zack Ellison plays). And those who play an instrument are welcome to bring it and join in a pick-up band for the closing worship.
Feast on fellowship with one another, as well as grilled cookout fare (hamburgers and hot dogs with vegetarian and gluten-free options available).
Receive a small gift to help us make a joyful noise.

The Assembly will take place at 10:00am (9:00am Central) on Saturday, 6/4/2016 at the Mitchell Presbyterian Church, with registration starting an hour earlier.

The packet, driving directions, and the minutes from the April meeting will be available for download from the assembly web page after 4:00pm on May 26th.

Online Pre-registration for the Assembly is available now.

What Happened at Assembly April 7, 2016

POV enjoyed the hospitality of First Presbyterian in Jeffersonville. The windows in the sanctuary have been refurbished in a major project that has been completed since the last time that the Presbytery met there.

Ruling Elder Zack Ellision moderated his first meeting.

The Transitional Executive from the Synod of Lincoln Trails was present. Sara Dingman brought the sermon to our worship. Sara also made comments during the meeting to outline the work and contributions of the Synod to our common life. Specifically she discussed:

The synod is encouraging exploration of Bi-Vocational Ministry.
The synod is intensely in discussions about per-capita and mission giving.
The synod is intensively encouraging care for pastors with peer groupings and other interventions.
Transitional skills (applicable to all persons) is to be taught locally in the synod.

A Vote was held on concurrence with an Overture to GA. Overtures start on a presbytery level. They move to the General Assembly where they are approved, rejected, edited, changed or answered in some way. Every overture must have referral from more than one presbytery to be considered by GA. If the changes involve change to the constitution, they must go back to the presbyteries.

The overture we acted upon did not involve constitutional change. It was to support ministry of GA efforts related to HIV/Aids persons.

The Presbytery Foundation’s ministry was presented by Lisa Longo. The Foundation’s national office is located in our presbytery in New Albany. Lisa outlined for us several important supports for mission and stewardship that are available to our congregations.

The POV Academy Committee reported through Trudy Vanderbeck. The Academy has broadened its mission to focus on leadership training for all people in the Presbytery. There is little demand by Elders for training to be Commissioned Ruling Elders. However, the need for training and education is still a need.

Report of the Lilly Grant Charlie Pye brought us an update on Lily Grant issues. Charlie reported for the Lily Excellence in Ministry Program. Both loans and grants are available through the program. Charlie reported his own work and helps. He also emphasized the “no interest” loans for debt resolution.

Larry Jackman
Stated Clerk